Trojan Releases New Batteries Suited for PV Systems

Joanna Schroeder

Trojan Battery Company has expanded its product line with the release of the Industrial flooded line of batteries designed for use with renewable energy. The batteries were developed to support large daily loads where batteries are regularly cycled, the case with photovoltaic (PV) systems. Storage of the energy generated by solar systems has been a challenge for the industry. “As …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Canadian Solar Launches ELPS Solar Cell Technology

Joanna Schroeder

Canadian Solar has released its latest technology, ELPS solar cell technology. ELPS achieves up to 19.5 percent cell efficiency for the monocrystalline and up to 18 percent for polycrystalline cells. The new technology will be debuted at Intersolar Munich, 2011. “With the new ELPS Cell technology we again managed to significantly lower the production cost per watt while at the …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Crimea Home to New Solar Power Project

Joanna Schroeder

The Ukraine has finalized the construction of a new solar energy power station in the Crimea with the help of Nature Energy. The new solar project is a part of the country’s National Projects aimed at lessening the imported energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015. The solar power system has the ability to produce up to 25 thousand megawatt-hours, …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Book Review – Switching to Solar

Joanna Schroeder

I’m writing this post, sitting outside, overlooking a pool sparkling in the sunshine. OK, not really but it gets your mind in the right place – a sunny day. Solar energy has been gaining ground in both the U.S. and especially Europe so I thought it was high-time I learn more about the history of solar. “Switching to Solar,” by …

book reviews, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Umbria Italy Home of New Solar Farm

Joanna Schroeder

Next time you visit Italy there will be a new “eco-tourist” destination. A solar farm is up and running in the municipality of Castel Giorgio in the region of Umbria Italy. The solar farm is nestled among farming land on the summit of a high plateau a few miles from Lake Bolsena a popular agrotourism area. The 2 megawatt system …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Lakeside Dairy Goes Solar

Joanna Schroeder

Agriculture gets greener everyday. Lakeside Dairy in Hanford, Cali. has gone solar. The dairy installed a new solar energy system to power its milking barn and other dairy operations. With the system in place, they expect to cut their conventional energy use by 75 percent. The family-owned dairy has 7,000 head of cattle and a custom farming business. I don’t …

Agribusiness, Electricity, Energy, Solar

New Wind Measurement System Available

Joanna Schroeder

Vaisala has released the new WTS Wind Management System that has been specifically engineered for wind resource assessment, power curve measurement and monitoring of wind farms. The system was designed to help wind farm managers better understand and manage the impact of weather on operations. Vaisala wind sensors can be found at the National Weather Service’s Automated Surface Observing System …

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Nissan Installs 30 Solar EV Chargers at TN Plant

Joanna Schroeder

International car manufacturer Nissan North America has begun the installation of 30 solar charging stations at its Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Franklin, Tennessee. This project is one of dozens that Nissan has invested in the state totaling more than $3.5 billion over 30 years. The solar chargers are designed to charge the Nissan LEAF, an all electric vehicle (EV) …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Offshore Wind Key Solution for UK

Joanna Schroeder

A new white paper has been released that details the role offshore wind could play for the UK. According to Shadow Energy Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, along with Chairman of the Environment Agency Lord Smith, without investments along with skilled workers, the industry will not flourish to its full capacity. Today, only 3 percent of energy currently consumed comes from renewables …

Electricity, Energy, Video, Wind

New England Goes Solar

Joanna Schroeder

Con Edison Development now owns and operates the largest operating solar power system in New England. The ten-acre solar facility is located in the New Bedford Business Park, located between Dartmouth and New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 2-megawatt project consists of more than 8,000 ground mounted crystalline silicon panels generating enough electricity to power 2,000 average sized homes. “As New England’s …

Electricity, Energy, Solar